]]>(This is another edition of /RANT, a weekly opinion piece column on GameFront. Check back every week for more. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not reflect those of GameFront.)

Whenever there’s a new gaming system on the horizon, one of the burning issues surrounding its release is that of its launch library. What games will be available to buy the same day as the system? Over the years, we’ve conditioned ourselves to not only expect, but demand a vast launch library. We need that initial sign of publisher support to convince us that the machine we’re dropping several hundred bucks on is going to have the wealth of content needed to sustain our entertainment for at least a few years. Both Sony and Nintendo have impressed the public lately by boasting of large launch libraries for their recent and upcoming hardware — namely the PlayStation Vita and Wii U. A system that launches with over twenty titles available the same day is a healthy looking bit of technology.

But is it really that healthy or sensible to launch hardware with over 20 games? Does it really say anything about a system’s support? Judging by how the PS Vita’s fared, I’ve started to think that maybe a strong launch library really isn’t that important — or at least shouldn’t be in the industry’s eyes.

There’s no doubt that, on paper, the PS Vita had a remarkable launch lineup. In fact, it was proudly announced that the Vita was to have the largest lineup of any Sony product, boasting 25 games from itself and third parties. Big hits like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Lumines: Electronic Symphony, and Marvel vs. Capcom 3 were arrayed in dazzling formation, ready to impress us and make us feel like we were purchasing a worthy product that would keep fans amused for as long as they could dream. Unfortunately, the reality was not quite so good, not when you broke it down.

The first problem with a large launch lineup is that, of course, not all of those games will be appealing, and this was definitely true in the Vita’s case. Only a few of the launch games were really that good, and several of those were ports or barely refined sequels. It’s all very well saying you have 25 games, but when the reality is that most consumers will only like or care about a tiny fraction of that number, it’s really not too impressive — especially when dire games like Little Deviants and Modnation Racers: Road Trip make up your collection. Getting an audience all fired up for a mass of games might be counter-productive, since when they realize they only want or like a few of them, their initial enthusiasm gives way to disappointment.

One contributing factor may be that, with any launch library, a portion of those games will invariably be rushed to meet the deadline. It’s hardly surprising to see a good number of ports in the Vita’s library, given that they’re the easiest games to produce — they’re already made and so just need the necessary changes required to bring them over. Ubisoft was particularly proud of supporting the Vita heavily at launch, but it did so with games like Rayman: Origins, Michael Jackson: The Experience, Asphalt and Dungeon Hunter. A lot of these early games will just not look or play very well, making the entire system running it seem poor. Modnation Racers looked and played like shit on the PlayStation Vita, and did a terrible job showcasing the handheld to anybody who’d heard about its superior graphics and gameplay capabilities. Perhaps if it had been given more time to improve itself and enhance its aesthetic, it could’ve done far better.

We’re only now seeing more games than just Uncharted: Golden Abyss looking visually impressive on the PS Vita. The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Silent Hill: Book of Memories, and upcoming titles like Killzone: Mercenaries and Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation do a far better job of making the Vita look good, and it’s hardly surprising. They’ve had a lot more time than those games cobbled together to ensure Sony had 25 titles to preen its feathers over. I can’t deny I’m excited for some of the games on the horizon, but that doesn’t alter my initial disappointment in a slew of games that just didn’t do the Vita justice.

This ties into what may be the most important problem with a launch library — it’s the very definition of a platform shooting its load too early. Again, let’s look at the PS Vita’s launch. 25 games of varying quality. So, after the early adopters have selected the one or two games from those 25 that appeal to them, they’ll inevitably ask the question — what’s next? And what was next for the Vita? Not. A. Lot. After the system released in February, March had a small assortment of middling titles, but it wasn’t until May that things got interesting with the high profile (if dreadful) Resistance: Burning Skies and critically acclaimed (if merely decent) Gravity Rush. After that? Well, it wouldn’t be until August that the system got its next must-have in Sound Shapes, and even that was a shared title with the PlayStation 3. The rest of the year is seeing a mere sliver of headline-worthy exclusive games — LittleBigPlanet, New Little King’s Story, Liberation, Zero Escape, and Black Ops Declassified. There may be some more obscure titles you’re personally into, but those are the heavy hitters. It’s really not been much of a year. Not with whole months lacking any sort of attention-getting release and a 2013 that currently looks threadbare.

It’s all very well to have a strong launch library, but if you haven’t got much of anything after that to remain in the public eye and keep potential consumers looking at your product, what use is it, really? One has to wonder if it wouldn’t have been better to have saved some of those launch titles, continued to develop them a little longer, and spread them out more evenly over the year. Surely it’s better to have a consistent release schedule than one made of heavy peaks and troughs. It is certainly better for the end user, who will have more regular reasons to switch the thing on rather than have these short bursts of activity followed by lengthy periods of owning a glorified brick.

The Wii U has pulled a similar trick, with Nintendo recently revealing 23 launch titles. The shrewd consumer can already see that number shrink when searching for must-have exclusive experiences that’ll truly showcase what the system has to offer. There are a lot of ports in that list, games like Darksiders II, Ninja Gaiden 3, Batman: Arkham City and more. Many sequels. Only four original IP, two of which are called Sing Party and Game Party Champions (therefore fuck ‘em). The whole “big launch library” thing is smoke and mirrors, and says nothing about how well the hardware will thrive after the dust has settled.

This is not to diminish the Wii U. I’m quite excited for it, and I hope — as I do with all gaming systems — it’ll perform really well and get a ton of support. However, it’s not the launch library that’ll convince me of its successes. I don’t think any launch library is indicative of a system’s support or future triumphs, and I wonder if the faith we place in it as industry members or consumers is completely misguided. Really, it’s never proven a thing to date, and who has ever bought 25 brand new retail games regardless of whether they like them or not? Only the rich and/or eccentric.

Maybe we should be demanding not a strong launch library, but a strong library overall, one that’s sensibly paced, and not full of ports or rush-jobs. Telling me you have over 20 games for your system at launch just doesn’t impress me anymore. I want to know what you’re doing to keep me invested in your product every week of the year. I rarely go a day without using my iPad for something. I wish I could say the same of my game devices.

Crytek’s upcoming free-to-play shooter Warface had a pretty slick trailer that dropped recently. Maybe it’s all the attention that Valve’s Source Filmmaker has received since it was released for free on Steam, but it seems Crytek wanted to show off its own movie-making technology.

The trailer was made with a program called Cinebox, Cytek’s movie-making suite for CryEngine 3 that’s currently available as a beta for select studios and companies. It looks like a pretty slick piece of software, and you can see it in action in the video below. More information is available on Crytek’s website right here.

Ah, the Merc With a Mouth. Honestly, it’s kind of a surprise it’s taken him this long to get his own video game. After hilarious cameo appearances in a number of Marvel-licensed titles, everyone’s favorite fourth-wall-breaking, mentally unstable mercenary is coming soon to platforms-yet-to-be-revealed, courtesy of Activision and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron developers High Moon Studios.

As the teaser below makes clear, the game will embrace Deadpool AKA Wade Wilson’s distinctive brand of zany humor. Even better, it also makes clear that the character will be voiced by fan-favorite actor Nolan North, who has appeared as the character in a number of recent titles, including Marvel Vs. Capcom 3. Nathan Drake with a mutant healing factor and an unhinged sense of humor? Where do I sign up?

Alright, so I was a huuuge Marvel vs Capcom 2 fan. Not so far as to learn every crazy combo – I don’t have much patience. But enough of a fan that I still regularly play my imported Dreamcast copy (I couldn’t wait until release). Bearing that in mind, I never bought MvC3. Maybe it was the fear of seeing a beloved game get a sequel after so many years. Maybe it was the lack of drive to try and compete with serious arcade-stick gamers. Or maybe I just suck. But either way, I was this close to finally buying a copy when I heard about Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. And even though I wasn’t slighted a purchase, I still feel uneasy on behalf of all its fans.

Why the hell release a new game so soon after the original? What about all the DLC that was promised? Wasn’t there enough of a backlash about Super Street Fighter IV (I know I was screaming)? Well representatives of Capcom and Marvel held a panel at this year’s Comic-Con and… never answered that question. Damn.

What they did talk about were, of course, the new additions. From a purely gameplay point-of-view, Ultimate is much more a series of tweaks then an overhaul. Spectator Mode is the only outright new addition, allowing players to… well, spectate on other online matches. This was apparently a highly sought after addition. Second in requests was the only other real system change – X-Factor. This last-chance power has been better balanced and can now be activated while in the air. Meaning those dudes that juggle you in the air for 50 hits just got a new way to seal the deal.

Besides that, it’s all about the characters. Four new characters were shown (of an announced twelve), 2 from Capcom and 2 from Marvel. Because this was technically a Capcom panel, the discussion was focused on their entries.

Strider Hiryu is back from MvC2 and he’s been balanced to feel familiar to fans but also viable to the new game. He’s all about dashing around, creating area complications with his tools, and otherwise looking badass as a sci-fi ninja that rides a robotic tiger.

Firebrand is a surprise addition, pulling way back from Ghosts & Goblins, as well as his own, albeit much lesser known title, Gargoyle. This guy is a technical beast. Expect moves that harken back to the attack style of this famed baddie. If the hardcore fighters in the row behind me are any indication, Firebrand is going to be a serious online contender.

The Marvel characters announced (but not given the video treatment) were Hawkeye and Ghost Rider. Getting my hands on with each of the characters on the show floor I didn’t find much to get excited about with Hawkeye. If you like ranged fighters, sure, but he doesn’t seem to have much more than that. But what do I know. Ghost Rider is an immediate fan favorite and everyone was using him. Complete with chain grapples and motorcycle riding, expect a more viable Omega Red character.

Along with the expanded roster (50 total including Ultimate additions and 2 DLC), there will be 8 new stages to play in. What they are was not discussed, but hey, I know there’s going to be eight of them.

This is the point in the panel when the panelists called for audience members to combat for the honor of the warring franchises. Without spending too much time on it, the two highly enjoyable bouts went way in Marvel’s favor. Something the Capcom panel was not too pleased with. I guess that’s what you get for picking two randos against Marvel’s specifically selected world-competitors.

After the bouts, Capcom wet itself in excitement over the myriad of new costumes for its characters. Because this justifies asking customers to purchase an entirely new game, right? Expect 2 new costumes for each character, with Capcom fighters getting an emphasis on past game connections (such a War of the Gems), and Marvel fighters getting comic-tied colors to combat with.

But the dress-up fun doesn’t stop there. Pre-ordering the game grants you several “enhanced” special costumes, many of which involve modified models, rather than just re-colors. Reserve your copy with GameStop to get a special Storm, X-23, Chun-Li, and Morrigan. Best Buyers get Super Skrull, M.O.D.O.K., Viper, and Wesker. Finally, Amazon lovers receive Sentinel, Doom, Strider, and Akuma. I don’t know all of the comic tie-ins with the costumes but M.O.D.O.K.’s Elvis impersonation is pretty great, Cyber-Akuma is a huge fan treat, and Viper’s costume is apparently associated with an as-of-now unannounced venture.

Think all the new costumes sound awesome, but only want to pre-order one copy? Fear not, for Capcom loves money and they’ll be selling all the costumes down the road.

So how you feel about Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 really comes down to your own preferences and your fandom to the franchise. Are character balances, tweaked X-Factor, Spectator Mode, and a butt load of costumes enough for a new retail purchase? If I had already bought MvC3 I’d personally say hell no. But as it stands I can’t really see a reason not to wait and jump in with all of the new additions. Apparently I’m the crowd Capcom is appealing to but shouldn’t the hardcore fans that already invested been their actual target? I guess we’ll find out when the game releases sometime this year (tentatively).

Capcom today revealed a totally, uh, ultimate version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3, a game that just came out a few months ago. I hope everyone who bought it is PISSED. Retailing for $39.99 and streeting in November, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 will include 8 new stages and 12 new fighters. Officially confirmed so far are Hawkeye, Firebrand, Ghost Rider and Strider, but word is that the other newbies are Phoenix Wright, Vergil, Frank West and Nemesis for Capcom, and Dr. Strange, Rocket Raccoon, Iron Fist and Nova for Marvel.

Zombies are back on the menu, thanks to Call of Duty’s wildly popular Escalation DLC and its attendant Call of the Dead mode. For a raft of videos on how to unlock its most delectable perks, plus a huge variety of other information, check out the links below.

Walkthrough Weekends is a recurring feature, so check back every Friday to read all the most useful hints, tips, guides and lists from the previous week. That way, you’ll be prepared when work ends and fun begins. Don’t spend your free time staring at loading screens!

]]>Video games don’t have the greatest history of pandering to the tastes of women. That’s probably because so many game devs are frustrated nerdy dudes working out their own issues via XML. This explains why so many female game protagonists are smoking hot redheads who want to hook up with the nerdiest NPC in the game. It also explains why women in video games tend to be… busty.
For more cheats, easter eggs, secrets and video guides download Game Front’s video walkthrough apps.Video Walkthroughs app on iOSVideo Walkthroughs app on Android

Think we’re kidding? Go to your cabinet now and pick a game. Any game. Fact is, just like how every technological advance is popularized by porn, every step in the evolution of gaming is marked by the diligence of programmers with the sexual maturity of 12 year old boys, working day and night to put breasts into games whether they need to be there or not.

Sexist? Often. Sleazy? Probably. But it’s possible that the insistence on increasingly realistic breasts in games helped usher in the more adult themes we’ve come to take for granted in gaming over the decades. Or at least we’re telling ourselves that to assuage our guilt. Here are the 40 greatest boobs in video game history.

40) Samus Aran

This was the reward you got for beating 1986′s Metroid in record time. Nowadays it would be ‘Achievement unlocked: basement dweller!’

39) Eve from Leisure Suit Larry

Eve is who you got to hot tub with in 1987, when you beat Leisure Suit Larry. It’s primitive, but in the 80s people could only see in 8 bits and 4 colors.

38) Felicia (Darkstalkers version, 1994)

By the early 90s it got a lot easier to pander. Witness the birth of cosplay.

37) Morrigan (Darkstalkers version, 1994)

Yeah, there’s a reason 12 year olds packed arcades into the late 90s. Now soliciting joystick puns.

36) Sarah Morrison from Tabula Rasa

Remember what we said earlier about redheads? Here’s your proof.

35) Joanna Dark from Perfect Dark

The thing is, Joanna never does this in the game. She’s too busy breaking and entering and killing Datadyne honchos to seduce anyone.

34) Lara Croft from Tomb Raider

If video games had a ‘jiggle’ era, it was almost certainly initiated with Tomb Raider. I also blame this game for the popularity of Daisy Dukes.

33) Andariel from Diablo 2

Speaking of redheads, what is it with fantasy games and demons with human breasts? I’m pretty sure demons aren’t mammals.

32) Sonya Blade from Mortal Kombat

After Mortal Kombat, fighting game makers decided large, barely-covered breasts were the best defense in a fight. This sounds like bad advice for real life. Unless guys want to try using their nuts as a shield.

31) Mileena from Mortal Kombat

When you play Mortal Kombat, you’re going see some cleavage. It’s in the company handbook.

30) Kitana from Mortal Kombat

You’ll also see sideboob. No it doesn’t make any sense to us either.

29) Ivy Valentine from the Soulcalibur series

Soulcalibur saw Mortal Kombat’s ante and raised it considerably. Where Mortal Kombat had unrealistic scantily clad-ness, Soulcalibur had… well, gratuitous and unnecessary are words that come to mind. Note that Ivy’s weapon of choice is a whip with blades on it. And a bikini. There’s Christian subtext, I’m sure of it.

28) Taki from the Soulcalibur series

Two questions: 1) how is that outfit so form fitting?; 2) No seriously, how do you make navel-conforming cloth?

27) Seong Mi-Na from the Soulcalibur series

Judging by her outfit, Seong Mi-Na clearly went to the Miss Manners fetish academy for creepy western men.

26) Sophitia from the Soulcalibur series

Ok, now they’re just pandering. Come on guys.

25) Cassandra from the Soulcalibur series

At least her bustier straps are leather. That’s a little actual support. Because overflow is a problem and really, underwire is bad for working out. And I’m sure that’s exactly what the devs were thinkings.

24) Anna Williams from Tekken

You’d never know it but she’s the world’s oldest woman. The secret is competing in The King of Iron Fist Tournament, and pandering to desperate nerds.

23) Michelle Change from Tekken

Tekken is the king of weird fetish fuel. Michelle here is wearing a bikini and an Indian headdress. She’s at the Tekken tournament because she got lost on her way to Coachella

22) Christie Monteiro from Tekken

This is just… really blatantly pandering. No shame at all.

21) Felicia (Marvel Vs. Capcom version)

This is probably the basis of 50% of all Comic Con costumes.

20) Lulu from Final Fantasy X

Final Fantasy has pioneered the existential angst + gratuitous TnA school of storytelling.

19) The Cimmerian Woman from Age of Conan

Q: Conan, what is best in life?

A: To crush your enemies. To see them driven before you. To holy crap how could anyone sword fight in that?

18) Bloodrayne

I can’t help but think Bloodrayne is looking you in the eye and saying ‘my blades are up here idiots!”

17) Rachel from Ninja Gaiden

I really wish they hadn’t let John Millius consult on the Ninja Gaiden series.

16) Lady from Devil May Cry

You think this game is about vampires, but she’s wondering what, exactly, is the matrix?

15) The Everquest Cover Elf

F2P is l33t for ‘NSFW’.

14) Kasumi from Dead or Alive

Dead or Alive (to Tekken): you see, the problem is that you haven’t really considered how little clothing is needed in life or death combat.

Tekken: What’s ‘clothing’?

13) Lei-Fang from Dead or Alive

Dead Or Alive (to Tekken): See what we mean?

Tekken: oh I see. Volleyball really is the most dangerous game.

12) Asari Dancer in Mass Effect

Apparently, in the future gentleman’s clubs still don’t feature readings of Hume.

11) Morrigan (Marvel Vs. Capcom version)

This is the other 50% of all Comic Con costumes.

10) Miranda from Mass Effect 2

I promise this is saved by context. Miranda is doing it on purpose.

09) Tifa from Final Fantasy VII

Tifa is the existential crisis version of Lara Croft. The only thing desperate devs love more than redheads is clinical depression.

08) Isabela from Dragon Age 2

Isabela is actually an exceptionally well written character. But her designer really needs to check out non augmented bodies from time to time. Because those… aren’t breasts.

07) Shura from Soulcalibur 4

It’s not difficult to be the most practically-dressed female character in a Soulcalibur game.

06) Samus Aran (Modern version)

And once again, we have a ridiculously form-fitting jumpsuit. Thing is, it isn’t even necessary. We’re more interested in unlocking the Wave Beam.

05) Mai Shiranui from Fatal Fury and King of Fighters

Sometimes you can only marvel at design decisions. “How much support and protection does this offer?” “None.” “Excellent. Now could you rastafy her by 30%?”

04) Anne from Jurassic Park: Tresspasser

You’d think it wouldn’t be possible to shoehorn gratuitous breasts onto the playable character in a FPS. You’d be wrong. We can’t cure cancer but by god we’re going to put boobs into a genre that normally won’t let you see shoes. Our civilization will last forever.

03) Jade from Mortal Kombat

This is an example of the Mortal Kombat team showing restraint.

02) Yangus from Dragon Quest

You have to admit: 30+ years of boobs R&D have made spectacular manboobs possible.

01) The Brood Mother from Dragon Age: Origins

These are the greatest boobs ever put into a game ever. And no, you cannot have my brain bleach. I just drank all of it.

]]>http://www.gamefront.com/the-greatest-boobs-in-video-game-history-gallery/feed/26Walkthrough Weekend: Portal 2, Outland, Gears of War 3 Beta and More!http://www.gamefront.com/walkthrough-weekend-portal-2-outland-gears-of-war-3-beta-and-more/
http://www.gamefront.com/walkthrough-weekend-portal-2-outland-gears-of-war-3-beta-and-more/#commentsFri, 29 Apr 2011 18:27:51 +0000Phil Hornshawhttp://www.gamefront.com/?p=96655Tackle the weekend with all the game intel you can handle!

Get ready for a busy weekend. This week saw some huge releases we’ve had in a while, all at once — Portal 2, Mortal Kombat, SOCOM 4 and Conduit 2. We’ve got tons of video walkthroughs and guides all over the place here at Gamefront, so make sure to peruse those as well. For direct, up-to-the-minute video access, subscribe at our YouTube channel!

Walkthrough Weekends is a recurring feature, so check back every Friday to read all the most useful hints, tips, guides and lists from the previous week. That way, you’ll be prepared when work ends and fun begins. Don’t spend your free time staring at loading screens!

Take your deep breath before the plunge — two weeks of relatively modest releases have enabled gamers everywhere to gird themselves for next week’s marquee titles, like Mortal Kombat, Portal 2, and SOCOM 4. This weekend, while you’re waiting for those blockbusters to be released, check out our extensive coverage of The Dishwasher and other titles, available below. Meticulous video walkthroughs are a new service we’re offering here at Gamefront, so make sure to peruse those as well. For direct, up-to-the-minute video access, subscribe at our YouTube channel!

Walkthrough Weekends is a recurring feature, so check back every Friday to read all the most useful hints, tips, guides and lists from the previous week. That way, you’ll be prepared when work ends and fun begins. Don’t spend your free time staring at loading screens!

When Spider-Man: Edge of Time was announced, we were hoping it would bring something new to games based on the venerable comic series. Alas, while it’s not a sequel to Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Edge of Time does stay firmly in the same vein: insanely convoluted time travel plots bringing characters from different marvel dimensions and blah blah blah. Look, the game is probably going to be a lot of fun, but come on, Marvel! Surely you can do better than this. Surely you can come up with a different kind of time travel plot, right? No? Well, allow us to help. Here’s a list of time travel scenarios Marvel should consider, instead of the increasingly baffling plots they’re approving currently.

Because we’re helpful, we have rated each entry to compare convolution between our stories, and these Spidey games. We’re grading each one on:

1) Number of timelines.

2) Doppelganger pile-up.

These will be added to determine the story’s Shattered Dimensions Index (SDI). The Shattered Dimensionx Index will help you decide if it’s just too much to think about before happy hour.

1) X-Men: Wiemar Heroes

In this historical thriller directed by Brett Ratner, Magneto goes back to the 1920s and kills Hitler before his rise to power. Unfortunately, because every time you kill Hitler, the new timeline ends up being significantly worse, killing him just prevented Fascism from being discredited. In the new, Hitler Free future, America passed the mutant registration act in 1950 and the President is a Sentinel. Now the X-men have to go back to the roaring 20s and stop Magneto from preventing the Holocaust, triggering a thrilling 10 pages of discussing the moral ramifications of their actions. Special guest: FDR as Gambit’s grandfather, New Deal.

Grab your brain bleach kids! During yet another convoluted Marvel crossover mini-series, Wolverine is transported back in time to the 1820s, where he accidentally kills his grandmother’s husband. He then accidentally hooks up with his own grandmother (played by Nicole Kidman), resulting in his father’s conception. It turns out his mutant healing factor is the result of extreme inbreeding.

* Number of timelines: 1; temporal paradox loop.
* Doppelganger pile-up rating: 0. Wolverine is the same wolverine through the entire story.

Dr. Doom steals time travel technology from the Fantastic Four and uses it to bring some of history’s greatest monsters into the modern Marvel Universe’s New York. However, once there, instead of killing the Fantastic Four, they spend their time seeing the sights, taking in the culture and shopping, until they finally kill each other off fighting over access to a single parking space. Featuring Hitler, Stalin, Sulla, Atilla the Hun, Basil the Bulgar Slayer, Genghis Khan and Billy The Kid.

Number of Timelines: 1, if characters from the past are brought to the future. Timeline is otherwise unaffected. 9 possible if characters returned to their own time without first being mind-wiped.
Doppelganger pile-up rating: 0. Timecop rules apply: Same Matter Can’t Occupy Same Space.

In this alternate universe tale set in the Marvel 1602 timeline, science fiction writer and Victorian super hero H.G. Welles invents a time machine that accidentally brings Jack the Ripper to the Marvel universe’s New York. Jack is subsequently bitten by a radioactive serial killer and turns into super powered sociopath called Doctor Doom. Welles follows him to New York, but arrives just in time to be exposed to cosmic rays and is split into 4 different versions of himself, each with a unique super power. One has the ability to stretch his body to infinity, another becomes invisible to screenwriters attempting to adapt his books into movies. The third can shoot fire, and the last develops a lack of cognitive dissonance allowing him to both be a socialist and support World War One.

* Number of Timelines: 2. Characters from the past are brought to the future, creating a new timeline in which H.G. Welles disappeared in the 1880s..
* Doppelganger pile-up rating: 2. H.G. Welles times 4!

Nick Fury’s works for the Time Enforcement Commission, making sure that criminals don’t try to destroy the marvel universe by changing the past. Congressman Ron Silver becomes his sworn enemy when he tries to change history in order to become president. Silver accidentally becomes exposed to gamma rays during one such trip and morphs into the Incredible Hulk, forcing Nick Fury on a quest throughout the history of the Marvel universe to stop Ron Silver/The Hulk from destroying everything.

* Number of Timelines: Infinite: The Ron Silver Hulk goes to every single marvel universe, including the stupid Ultimates and Peter Porker universes.
* Doppelganger pile-up rating: Infinite. Ron Silver is a danger to every version of every Marvel Character in the entire Marvel Universe.

* Shattered Dimensions Index: 0. Surprising, but since it’s written by the same guy who wrote Timecop, it will be pathetically easy to follow.

After an experiment by Dr. Emmet Connors goes horribly wrong – Dr. Connors is murdered by members of terrorist syndicate Mandarin after stealing their plutonium – Staten Island teenager and secret Spider-man Peter Parker is sent back to the 1970s. There, he accidentally prevents his aunt May and uncle Ben from meeting. In the new timeline, he’s never taught that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ and will die in prison thanks to having killed several people in the ring during his ill-advised wrestling career. He has one week to fix that mistake and find a way back to his own time. Unfortunately, aunt May has fallen in love with him, Peter knows his uncle Ben will eventually be killed by a mugger, and he’s pissed off Biff The Hunter, the world’s first teenage bully/super villain/big game hunter. In the end, only a timely performance with Marvin DMC and the Starlighters can do the trick.

* Number of Timelines: 1. Back to the Future (but not BTTF 2) rules:changing the past erases the future.
* Doppelganger pile-up rating: 1. Young and old versions of characters exist but do not interact.

In 1943, young Army Signal Corps private Stan Lee participates in an experiment during World War two that propels him into the future year of 2011. There, he spends weeks trying to find a way home until realizing how popular and successful his comics have become, and how gratifying the fanboy culture of the internet is by comparison to letters to the editor in the 30s and 40s. He teams up with his 88 year old self to ensure that he can coast on the legacy of his accomplishments from the 60s for another 50 years. That is, until Steve Ditko… from the future!… is brought back from the dead via the blood of Ayn Rand and becomes a compassion-free killing machine…

* Number of Timelines: 1. Young Stan Lee doesn’t want to change the past, only to skip all the boring parts.
* Doppelganger pile-up rating: 4. Young and old versions of Stan Lee multiply his ego 5,000 times.

* Shattered Dimensions Index: 4. Luckily, all plot elements will be reused story ideas from the 60s, sparing Stan of having to come up with anything new or let someone else take over.

In this thrilling take on the Mark Twain classic, Thor, god of thunder, has been evicted from his rightful place in Asgard. The wily Loki interferes with the process, and instead of sending him to live with modern man Odin accidentally sends Thor back to 6th century Britain. Now forced to survive without his powers in a world he already lived in, Thor is Incapable of actually teaching the ancients anything of value. Instead, he spends his days among King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table as a lowly serf, tending to local crops, dodging chamber pot ejecta, and generally learning why Medieval Times is only worth checking out during happy hour.

* Number of Timelines: 1. Thor is sent from the Medieval Asgard court to the Medieval British court.
* Doppelganger pile-up rating: 1. No time duplicates, no changed history, as thor learns a valuable lesson about how much time travel would suck for 99.9999% of everyone.

Filmed on a paltry $7,000 budget, PrIronmer is mystifying and addictive, or at least you’ll be telling yourself that so your friends won’t think you’re stupid. Struggling engineer Tony Stark (Robert Downy, Jr.) accidentally creates a time machine while working on an anti-gravity device in his garage. At first attempting to exploit time travel for financial gain to fund his burgeoning Stark Industries, his alcoholism eventually gets the better of him. During a particularly bad blackout he accidentally creates 6 time travel duplicates, all with their own goals, each adversely affecting the normal course of history. Now he has to make sense of it and try to set things right, before he ends up erasing himself from existence.

* Number of Timelines: Infinity +1. The constant back and forth through the time machines creates potentially millions of possibilities. You’ll require DVD commentary and a physics lecture just to figure out the basic plot.
* Doppelganger pile-up rating: Infinity +4. The story has 6 main Tony Starks but the final scene, where Tony Stark #3 is building a giant version of his time machine in South America implies many, many more to come.

]]>http://www.gamefront.com/ten-time-travel-scenarios-marvel-should-consider-list/feed/0Walkthrough Weekend: WWE All Stars, The 3rd Birthday, and More!http://www.gamefront.com/walkthrough-weekend-wwe-all-stars-the-3rd-birthday-and-more/
http://www.gamefront.com/walkthrough-weekend-wwe-all-stars-the-3rd-birthday-and-more/#commentsFri, 01 Apr 2011 17:15:25 +0000GameFront Staffhttp://www.gamefront.com/?p=91228Meet the bull of this weekend by its horns!

Whether its burly men in tights, or buxom blondes in distressed denim, this week’s games put you in control of some outlandish characters. There’s lots of fun to be had playing WWE All Stars or The 3rd Birthday, but lots of challenge too, so take advantage of all the information we have splayed out below, which will help you dominate in the ring and elsewhere. I think you’ll find our new video walkthroughs particularly helpful. For direct, up-to-the-minute access, subscribe at our YouTube channel!

Walkthrough Weekends is a recurring feature, so check back every Friday to read all the most useful hints, tips, guides and lists from the previous week. That way, you’ll be prepared when work ends and fun begins. Don’t spend your free time staring at loading screens!

Two wildly different games are showcased this week — Crysis 2 is the ultimate in graphical fidelity, whereas Lego Star Wars 3 marries a lot of diverting gameplay to a simple, cartoonish look. We’ve got lots of useful information available for both games, so waste no time in poring over the hints below. In addition to text, this weekend guide includes embedded video from GameFront’s up-and-coming new YouTube Channel. Stocked daily with the latest in walkthroughs, cheats, and unlockables, our new video-based initiative will enable us to help gamers even more than we have in the past!

Walkthrough Weekends is a recurring feature, so check back every Friday to read all the most useful hints, tips, guides and lists from the previous week. That way, you’ll be prepared when work ends and fun begins. Don’t spend your free time staring at loading screens!

March’s litany of AAA titles continues this weekend following the releases of Homefront and Yakuza 4, which are sure to keep people (and their thumbs) extremely busy. Delve into links below to take advantage of our vast array of cheats and unlockables, pertaining to all the best new games. Thanks to GameFront’s new YouTube Channel, there’re more video walkthroughs than ever before, so be sure to take advantage.

Walkthrough Weekends is a recurring feature, so check back every Friday to read all the most useful hints, tips, guides and lists from the previous week. That way, you’ll be prepared when work ends and fun begins. Don’t spend your free time staring at loading screens!